Sheldon Lavin: Building The OSI Group Into A Successful Global Brand

Sheldon Lavin has won the Global Visionary award given by the Vision Institute. The organization, which is based in India, chooses entrepreneurs that have shown consistent work in building their companies over a period of time. Lavin has been CEO of the OSI Group since the late 1970s and was able to transform what was once a family-owned and operated butcher shop into a major force in the food processing industry worldwide. Now based in Aurora, Illinois, the OSI Group provides dough, fish, meat, poultry and vegetable products for millions of consumers in the Americas, Asia, Australia as well as Europe.

Since studying accounting and finance in college, the now octogenarian Lavin spent many years working in the banking industry, building an accounting firm and developing a reputation as an active investor. A father and grandfather, family is very important to Sheldon Lavin. At the OSI Group he has cultivated and maintained a family atmosphere. Employees interact warmly with each other and Lavin’s door is always open and employees are encouraged to go to him with their questions and ideas. Lavin says to him one of his greatest achievements is the love the OSI Group staff shares with each other.

Another part of Sheldon Lavin’s legacy at the OSI Group is the number of awards the company consistently wins for the quality of its service and its products. The company has won the Globe of Honor the British Safety council gives for food, facilities and environmental safety on three different occasions. OSI Group has also won numerous awards for their use of environment friendly technologies and practices. Sheldon Lavin and the OSI Group also have a sterling reputation when it comes to their relationships with their employees, their suppliers and their customers all around the world. People applaud Lavin and his staff from producing foods that meet the cultural needs and requirements of diverse client base.

Since Sheldon Lavin took over the OSI Group, the company has continually expanded the markets they serve. They’ve been in China for over 20 years and also have a growing customer base in Japan and India. The OSI Group has expanded into Europe by purchasing popular companies like Baho Foods and Flagship Europe. The OSI Group has also built food processing facilities in Spain, Hungary and Poland. It’s all part of Sheldon Lavin’s vision of making the OSI Group a well-respected global brand.